Another Senior, Republican, Congressman, Announces Retirement, as his District Leans Democrat.

Frelinghuysen Exit Adds To House GOP Retirement Woes

New Jersey Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is the latest veteran Republican to announce his retirement, opening up another competitive district as the GOP braces for what could be a brutal midterm cycle. Frelinghuysen is chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee - a perch he just took over last year.

From article, (New Jersey Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is the latest veteran Republican to announce his retirement, opening up another competitive district as the GOP braces for what could be a brutal midterm cycle.

Frelinghuysen is chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee — a perch he just took over last year. Under internal House GOP rules, he could serve up to six years in that post. His early departure from Congress signals that Frelinghuysen was likely worried about a tough re-election campaign in an already competitive district that President Trump only narrowly carried by 3,362 votes.

The 12-term Republican has also been critical of some of Trump's policies, includinghis proposal to ban some people from Muslim countries from coming into the U.S. But he had still largely voted in line with the president and his party, spurring protests in his district from activists after he supported a bill last year to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Member station WNYC also reported that Frelinghuysen had written a fundraising letter to the employer of one protester who says it led to pressure from her bosses that caused her to resign.

With Frelinghuysen's decision, a record 33 Republicans will now leave Congress in 2018. He is also the eighth committee chairman to announce retirement plans this year. While Hillary Clinton only narrowly lost his suburban Morris and Essex County district, there are six other Republicans from districts the Democratic nominee did carry who aren't seeking re-election.

"This district has been held by a Republican since the 1980's, and we plan to keep it that way in November," Stivers said in a statement.

But Democrats pointed to the congressman's exit as growing evidence that Republicans are worried about running in competitive races and adding to the possibilities of the 24 seats they need to flip the House.)